Country comparison

Pakistan vs United States

Pakistan leads on 1 of 6 metrics, United States on 5. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.

Population
255,219,554
341,784,857
▲ United States — a larger population
Area
881,912 km²
9,372,610 km²
▲ United States — more land area
GDP (nominal)
$407.31B
$30.77T
▲ United States — a bigger economy
GDP per capita
$1,596
$90,027
▲ United States — higher GDP per capita
Human Development Index
0.544
0.938
▲ United States — a higher HDI
Population density
289 /km²
36 /km²
▲ Pakistan — greater population density
Development profile (each axis 0–100%, higher is stronger)
WealthHealthHuman dev.InternetUrbanSurvival
Pakistan United States

Pakistan vs United States: the verdict

United States is the more populous of the two, home to 341.78 million people — about 1.3× the population of Pakistan (255.22 million).

On the economy, United States has the larger nominal GDP at $30.77T. But measured per person, United States comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($90,027), a better proxy for average living standards.

Geographically, United States is the larger country, spanning 9,372,610 km².

United States records the higher Human Development Index (0.938), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).

Overall, United States leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.

Full breakdown

Pakistan
Economy
United States
GDP (PPP)
$1.57T
$29.18T
GDP per capita (PPP)
$6,252
$85,810
GDP growth
3.7%
2.2%
Inflation
3.5%
2.9%
Unemployment
5.4%
4.2%
Pakistan
People
United States
Life expectancy
67.8 yrs
78.9 yrs
Fertility rate
3.55
1.63
Population growth
1.6%
0.5%
Urban population
39.5%
80.2%
Infant mortality (per 1,000)
48.2
5.5
Pakistan
Quality of Life
United States
Internet users
57.3%
94.7%
Literacy rate
58.9%
Physicians (per 1,000)
1.16
3.68
Renewable energy
41.6%
10.9%
GDP over time (nominal, US$)
$0$8.08T$16.15T$24.23T$32.31T197019982025 Pakistan United States

Government & politics

Pakistan
Who holds power
United States
Government type
Federal parliamentary republic
Federal presidential republic
Head of state
President
President
Head of government
Prime Minister
President
Executive power
Prime Minister & Cabinet
President
Ceremonial head
President
President
Commands military
President (nominal); the military holds strong independent influence
President (Commander-in-Chief)
Legislature
Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)
Bicameral Congress
Judiciary
Supreme Court
Independent Supreme Court

Pakistan

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic in which the President is a ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister — leader of the majority in the elected National Assembly — holds executive power. In practice, Pakistan's powerful military has repeatedly shaped politics, both directly through periods of military rule and indirectly, giving the armed forces an unusually strong role in national affairs compared with most parliamentary democracies.

United States

The United States has a presidential system with a strict separation of powers between three co-equal branches. The President is uniquely both head of state and head of government, elected separately from the legislature via the Electoral College. Congress writes the laws and controls spending; the President executes them and can veto legislation; the Supreme Court interprets the constitution. This system of checks and balances means power is deliberately divided — the President cannot dissolve Congress, and Congress can impeach the President.

Travel & practical

Pakistan
At a glance
United States
Capital
Islamabad
Washington D.C.
Currency
PKR
USD
Languages
English, Urdu
English
Dialing code
+92
+1201
Internet TLD
.pk
.us

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has a higher GDP, Pakistan or United States?

United States has the higher nominal GDP at $30.77T, compared with $407.31B for Pakistan (World Bank).

Which country has a larger population, Pakistan or United States?

United States has the larger population with 341,784,857 people, versus 255,219,554 for Pakistan.

Which is larger in area, Pakistan or United States?

United States is larger, covering 9,372,610 km² compared with 881,912 km² for Pakistan.

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